Concerns growing over peace officer assaults in Kamloops

By Glynn Brothen

(JENNIFER STAHN /InfoTel Multimedia)

October 26, 2015 - 1:07 PM

KAMLOOPS - Police and bylaw staff are concerned given the recent spike in assaults against peace officers in Kamloops.

The city's community safety and enforcement manager Jon Wilson says in the last month there’s been two serious incidents. A bylaw officer was attacked while another was seriously threatened. One of the incidents involved a weapon, according to Wilson who was speaking at a coordinated enforcement task force meeting at city hall this today, Oct. 26

"It’s not a good trend,” Wilson said. "Our officers are peace officers working to support public safety. Often we’re dealing with what should be relatively minor issues."

Both matters are under RCMP investigation.

In June, another bylaw officer was seriously assaulted with a skateboard after she caught a tagger outside of Memorial Arena. Wilson says she’s returned to work.

Since the incidents, he says the city is reviewing safety protocols and deciding if bylaw officers should get additional training, such as self-defence.

Staff Sgt. Brad Mueller with the Kamloops RCMP said he’s noticed an increase in calls for police officers to assist other emergency personnel, specifically paramedics.

He says the RCMP are hearing about the trend in meetings with hospital and ambulance staff.

"We’re being called more and more to deal with their safety. It’s a trend that we certainly feel as well,” Mueller said.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

OPINION Editor, This is a busy time of year, but I find it’s also a time of reflection, particularly as January marks the end of my two-year term as Chair and my 10 years serving on the Board of Interior